Date: Wed, 21 Jun 1995 13:20:32 +0200
From: Jenny Becker
Subject: Re: nurse / "sister"
>Does anyone have a comment on the use of "sister" for "nurse"? My Czexh
>colleague just asked me if they are the same in English.
>
>I remember that in Indonesia, "suster" is also used; would this be
>a borrowing from the Dutch? Is "sister" used for "nurse" in other
>Germanic and / or Slavic languages?
>
>Finally, does "sister" for "nurse" derive from Catholic nuns who
>often serve as nurses throughout the world? Or does the meaning
>come from the biological "sister," or someone who is close to
>you, supportive, nurturing, etc?
>
>Thanks for your ideas. Chris Brooks / Kuwait
In German, the word for nurse is also sister - Schwester or
Krankenschwester (which is interesting, as krank means sick, while the
Czechs place the emphasis on health). I don't know about the origin of the
use of sister, but I would guess that the nun connection is correct. In the
middle ages, the vast majority of hospitals in Europe were run by religious
orders.
Jenny Becker
beckerj[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]omri.cz